Improvement in buttons



O. E. BATES. Buttons.

No. 209,320. Patnted Oct. 29,1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BATES, OF "WEST CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTONS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,320, dated October29, 1878 application filed September 25, 1878.

My invention relates to buttons, and is de-' signed to provide animproved construction of the same, whereby they may be firmly secured toa fabric by mechanical devices.

Heretofore the objections to buttons which are fastened by means ofdevices which pass through the fabric from the side opposite to thebuttons and engage in connection therewith are, first, that said buttonsare very thick, and if used as front buttons, or are otherwise exposedto view, they make an unsightly appearance; second, if the button-faceis made of thin metal, the same is more or less defaced by the act offastening the tubular rivet, eyelet, or other mechanical connection 5third, it is very difficult to place said buttons accurately inposition. On the other hand, buttons made with the fastening devicesecured to the button itself are either too expensive or incapable ofbeing rapidly fastened to the fabric, in addition to which the commonfault is that they are not adapted to fabrics of different thickness orto different thicknesses of the same fabric, and hence a button which isfirm on a thick fabric would not be firm on a thin fabric.

My invention is intended to obviate these and other objections nowprevalent as regards the class of buttons in question; and to this endit consists, first, in the combination, with a button provided with agrooved plate, which curves the free extremity of a fastening-prong .byengagement therewith, of adevice adapted to have said extremity coiledabout it, and thereby secure the prong firmly in place secondly, in thecombination, with a button provided with a grooved plate formedindependent of or as part of the same, and which curves the freeextremity of a fastening-prongby engagement therewith, of a deviceinclosed by said plate, and about which the prong extremity is adaptedto coil; thirdly, in the combination, with a button provided with anannular grooved plate, which curves the free extremities of suitablefastening-prongs byengagement therewith, of a ring, about which saidextremities are adapted to coil fourthly, in the combination, with abutton-fastening prong and a grooved plate which curves its freeextremity by engagement therewith, of a ring or other device, aboutwhich said extremity passes, and which is adapted. to clamp it betweenthe same and said grooved plate;

any and all strain tending to separate the button from the fabric servesin corresponding increased degree to tighten the engagement of saidprongs between the prong-securing device and said grooved plate.

It will also be observed that this method of I fastening may beaccording toeither of two ways-that is, the prongs may be secured to thebutton, so that the free extremities of the same will connect inengagement with the grooved plate and its inclosed pron g-securin gdevice'when the latter are located on the side of the fabric opposite tothat on which the button is placed; or, on the otherhand, the prongs maybe secured to the button-fastening, and have their free extremities passthrough the cloth into the back of the button, there to connect inengagement with the grooved plate and prong-securin g device.

In instance of the latter manner of carrying out the invention, I preferto use the fastening forming the subject-matter of Letters Patent No.200,018, granted to me February 5, 187 8, the prongs of which are welladapted to coil about the prong-securing device when inclosed within thebutton proper.

Buttons on shoes, gloves, and similar arti cles are fastened best inthis latter, way, while buttons on pantaloons and similar articles ofapparel are fastened best by the other manner.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 respectively represent, in sectionalviews, the two different form s of the invention, as above referred to.covered when it is placed against the fabric on the side opposite tothat on which the button is secured. Fig. 4 illustrates one manner offorming the grooved plate into desired shape, with the pron g-securin gring inclosed thereby. Fig.5 is a modification of the invention whereinthe grooved plate is made oblong in form and provided with a singlestraight rod as a securing device for both prongs. Fig. 6 is amodification of the grooved plate when the latter is located on the sideof thcfabric opposite to that on which the button proper is secured, thesame being made with upper side extensions, adapted to provide greatersurface-bearing for itself, and thus prevent any tendency of being drawnthrough the fabric or otherwise injuring the latter.

As shown in Fig. 1, the button A has the fastening-prongs B securedthereto by being formed in same piece or otherwise connected therewith,the free extremities of said prongs passing through the fabric 0, andengaging, respectively, with opposite interior sides of the centralconvex portion, d, of the grooved plate D. This grooved plate may be ofany suitable character adapted to cause said pron g extremities, byengagement therewith, to curve outwardly and upwardly, so as to coilabout the prongsecuring device E. However, I preferably use for thispurpose an annular grooved plate, formed substantially the same asrepresented in the different figures of the drawings, and whichconstitutes the subjectmatter of Letters Patent 207,706, granted to meSeptember 8, 1878.

The prong-securing device E is preferably in the form of a ring, asrepresented in the main views, and is inclosed within said annulargroove of the plate.

The free extremities of the prongs, as they are curved by engagementwith the latterplate, pass around said ring in coil form, and arethereby held between the same and the respective interior sides of thegrooved plate. This not only causes them to connect with said ring inengaging embrace, but also serves to increase the degree of tightnesswith which they are clamped in position in corresponding proportion withany increase in the strain imposed upon the button.

As represented in Fig. 2, the prongs B are in same piece with thefastening b, which is placed on the opposite side of the fabric 0 fromthat on which the button is placed. The grooved plate D is loosely heldwithin the body of the button A, and the prong-securing ring E isinclosed within it. In this instance the free extremities of the prongs,after passage through the fabric, engage with opposite sides,respectively, of the central convex por- Fig. 3 represents the groovedplate astion, at, of said plate, and are curved outwardly anddownwardly, so as to embrace the ring in coil form. The clampedengagement of the prong extremities is the same in this case as in theformer, as is apparent.

In the modification represented in Fig.5 of the drawings, the samegeneral principle obtains; but, instead of an annular grooved plate, anoblong plate, F, is substituted, the same being formed as shown andprovided with a single straight rod or bar, f.

Other modified forms of construction may be used, as it is evident thatthe scope of the invention is broad, and includes any form of platecapable of curving the free extremities of the fastening-prongs, incombination with a prong-securing device adapted to be embraced by saidextremities in coil form.

Fig. 3 of the drawings represents the grooved plate D when placedagainst the fabric opposite to the side on which the button is placed,and provided with a flexible covering, G, made of cloth or othersuitable material.

Ametallic disk, H, is placed intermediately between the covering andplate, said disk being formed with edges adapted to bind the edges ofthe covering between the same and grooved plate, the same being firststruck a up, the ring'inserted, and finally stamped or pressed intogrooved form with the co ncavoconvex central body. Other ways of formingthis plate and inclosing the ring therein may be substituted for theabove.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the button-fastenin g K, whereinbearing-extensions k are formed on opposite sides of its central bodyand in the upper part thereof, the same being adapted to provide greatersurface-bearing for said fastening as the latter comes in contact withthe fabric. In this way any tendency of said fastening to draw throughthe cloth, or otherwise injure the same, or loosen the firm hold of thebutton upon the fabric, is obviated.

It will be understood that any number of fastening-prongs (one or more)may be used, instead of two, as represented in the drawings; also, thatwhen the grooved plate is connected with the button proper it may bemade either independent of or in same piece with thebutton-shell.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a button, of abutton-fastening, one of saidparts being provided with suitable prongs, while the other is providedwith a curved plate and a retainingring, or one or more bars supportedon said curved plate, whereby the parts may be firmly secured togetherby forcing the ends of the prongs against the curved plate, which latteroperates to coil the prongs around or partly itroiilnd the ring or bar,substantially as set 'ort 2. The combination, with a button orbuttonfastening, provided with an annular grooved plate which curves thefree extremities of suitable fastening-pron gs by engagement therewith,of a ring supported by said grooved I clamped between the ring and innersurface of the grooved plate, substantially as set forth.

4. In a button, the combination, with the grooved plate placed againstthe fabric on the side opposite to the button proper, of a flexi blecovering and an intermediate metallic disk, the latter being formed withedges adapted to bind the edges of the covering between the same and theexterior upper side of the plate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my'hand andseal this 20th day of September, 1878.

CHAS. E. BATES. [L. s'.]

Witnesses:

EDWARD A. CORNWALL, EUNICE B. CORNWALL.

